Off to Be the Wizard

There's a great temptation – and frequently a rush – when discussing an amusing/funny book in SF or Fantasy to compare it with, well – the name rhymes with Schmouglas Schmadams – this can be damning, because almost nothing can live up to it. So I'm going to resist even saying the name. If anything, I think you could say this was reminiscent of Schmon Schmalzi – only funnier.

Martin Banks is the rather unimpressive hero here – a college dropout, living in a poorly-furnished apartment, working in “a cubicle farm, . . . a fluorescent-lighted, beige-walled abattoir for the human spirit where he had to spend most of his time,” and doing some minor hacking on the weekends, just to amuse himself. He stumbles upon a way to manipulate reality, to change things just a little bit here and there around him. Being human, it takes very little time before he begins using that ability in a way to draw the attention of the Federal Authorities. Which is not all that comfortable, so he heads off to England in the Middle Ages where he figures he can do okay for himself, living as a wizard using these abilities.

That's when things start to get really entertaining (and I had no complaints up to this point). Anything more I say on this front is a horrible spoiler, so we'll just leave it with really entertaining.

This is a coming of age tale – and, as it's about a Millennial, it's a delayed-coming-of-age story. But Martin's not one of those protagonists that you have to see mature before you like him – you connect with him right away (or you're probably wasting your time reading on). He definitely doesn't mature in your typical way, which is part of the fun. I can't help comparing Martin to Wesley Chu's Roen Tan. But without the stakes that Roen had to deal with (and a nicer mentor).

Most of the characters we get to know are met after Martin's time jump – so don't worry if you find everyone in 2012 a little shallow and undeveloped. They are, but other people won't.

There are several things in the book that won't hold up to much scrutiny – like his ability to get a smartphone signal in Dover, England in 1150. Adapt the advice Joel and the ‘bots used to give us, “just repeat to yourself . . . you should really just relax.” It's worth it.

The book is just littered with wit – from the extended jokes, the funny visuals, or little asides like: “The fact that wristwatches weren't invented yet made it difficult to look impatient , but he managed.” On nearly every page, there's something to make you chuckle or laugh – or at least grin. I laughed enough that it was annoying to my family – not that I cared, mind you. But it's not just a yuk-fest, there's a well-written story here, in a great world with some characters you want to spend time with.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy and have promised myself that I won't have to wait too long for it. A great mix of SF, Fantasy, Magic, Computers, the Middle Ages and laughs. What are you waiting for?